Process of separating metals from ores.



H. A. WAGNER PROCESS OF SEPARATING METALS FROM ORES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.27, 1914.

1, 115,35 1 G. Patented 00a. 27, 1914.

HERMAN A. WAGNER, OF EAST ORANGE, New JERSEY.

PROCESS OF SEPARATING METALS FROM ORES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 27, 1914-.

Application filed January 27, 1914. Serial No. 814,767.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN A. \VAGNER, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at East Orange, in the count-y of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in. Processes of Separating Metals from Ores, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention-is the complete recovery ofnnetals from their ores in a thoroughly economical manner.

The invention relates particularly to the recovery of such metals as copper, zinc, and the like, from sulfid and similar ores, by electrolysis in an aqueous bath comprising a solution of a soluble salt, particularly sodium chlorid, although other saltsmay be employed, the selection of. the best salt to employ, depending largely upon the charactor of the particular ore under treatment.

The process is preferably carried out in an electrolytic vat provided with an active diaphragm, particularly such a diaphragm as is described and claimed in my U. S. Patout No. 1,077,44i4 dated Nov. a, 1912-3, although other similar diaphragms may if desired be employed.

The accompanying drawing shows a suitable apparatus in which the process may be carried out, and insaid drawing 1 repre sents a suitable tank or vat, provided with a diaphragm comprising side plates 2 and 2' of a pervious and substantially inert material, such as burnt porous clay, asbestos or the like containing a filling 3 composed of a material made from pumice stone, charcoal, and manganese dioxid, which materials in a granular condition are treated with a solution of a mercuric salt, such as mercuric chlorid,- and preferably also with a hydrogen absorbing agent, such as palladium, which will preferably be used in the form of a palladium compound, such as palladium chlorid, after which the granular material is dried and treated at a temperature of 100 to 150 C.,-wi th vapor of formaldehyde or other gaseous medium capable of reducing palladium chlorid, but not capable of reducing the manganese dioxid at said temperature.

4 represents the anode and 5 the cathode, immersed in a bath which as above stated may consist of a solution of sodium 'chlorid .in Water.

The ore to be treated 15 introduced through the mercuric chlorid and it is desiredto clean the cell, or at other times.

At 9 is illustrated any suitable form of stirring or agitating device which may be employed for keeping the solution in the anode compartment agitated, in order to maintain the ore either wholly or partly in suspension, and at 10 is shown a suitable man-hole closure which may be removed, to assist in removing the undecomposed ore, tailings and the like from the bottom of this compartment. If desired a coil of pipe 11 may be provided within the anode compartment, for the purpose of heating the electrolyte. If desired the agitation may also be produced by the introduction of a current of air at or near the bottom of the anode compartment.

It will be noted that a valuable feature of this invention is the use of the diaphragm described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,077,444, above referred to, by means of which hydrogen liberated in the cathode compartment is prevented from passing-intothe anode compartment, even if more or less of thls hydrogen becomes dissolved in the liquid constituting the bath, since said hydrogen will at once be oxidized by the manganese diozid in the diaphragm. The metallic mercury increases the-conductivity of the diaphragm, and acts, perhaps in the state of sodium amalgam, as an assistant to travel of the metal ions, from the anode to the cathode. The presence of a hydrogen absorbing agent, such as the palladium black inthe diaphragm by catalytic actiommaterially increases the rate of speed of the various chemical reactions, and apparently also the electrolysis, as does also the mercury, and moreover this palladium being a particularly active hydrogen absorbing agent, absorbs the hydrogen set free in the vicinity the of the diaphragm or Within the diaphragm itself, to aid the oxidation of this hydrogen by the manganese 'dioxid, apparentl by catalysis, and to prevent the action or this hydrogen upon the chlorin evolved at the surface of the anode. I

I have found by investigation that by the use of this process it is possible to extract the metals from the ores as above. referred to, in a very economical and complete man ner, both as to the cost of labor, electric current used, and original cost of plant.

The anode 4 must obviouslybe made of a refractory material which is not readily at-' tacked by chiorin and similar reagents, such a material as graphilized carbon beingv found to be suitable. The cathode 5 may be made of any suitable material, such as the metal which is being extracted from the par ticular ore under treatment.

' WVhat I claimisz- 1. A process of extracting metals from their ores by electrolysis, ,WlllCll comprises passing a current from an anode to a cathode, both being immersed in a suitable electrolyte, holding the ore in the anode compartment, the liquid in the anode com-' partment being kept separate from the liquid in the cathode compartment, and while maintaining a depolarizing material including an oxidizing agent, in the path of the current, between said anode and said cathode."

2. A process of extracting metals from their 'ores by electrolysis, which comprises passing a current from an anode to a cathode, both being immersed in a suitable electrotyle, holding the ore in the anode compartment, the liquid in the anode compartment being kept separate from the liquid in the cathode compartment, and While maintaining adepolarizing material including an oxidizing agent and mercury,

in thepath of the current, between said anode and said cathode.'

3. A process of extracting metals from their ores by electrolysis, which comprises passing a current from an anode to a cathode, both being immersed in a suitable electrolyte, holding the ore in the anode compartment, the liquid in the anode compartment being kept separate from the llquld. in the cathode compartment, and wvhile maintaining a depolar zing material including an oxidizing agent, mercury and a hydrogen absorbing agent, in the path of the current, between said anode and said cathode.

4.. A "process of extracting metals from their ores by electrolysis, which comprises passing a current from an anode .to, a cathode, both beingimmersed ina suitable electrolyte, holding the ore in the anode compartment, the liquid in the anode conipartment being "kept separate fromthe liquid. in the cathode compartment, and

While maintaining a depolarizing material including a manganese dioxid, mercury,

and palladium black, in the path ofthe cur-' rent, between said anode and said cathode.

5. A process'of extracting copper, zinc and the like, from sulfid ores containing the same, which comprises suspendingsaid ores, in the anode. compartment of an electrolytic cell containing a solution of common salt, and depolarizing the cell by oxi-- dizing any hydrogen absorbcdby the cathode liquid, before said 'liydrogen'com'es into contact With the anode liquid.

' 6. In an electrolytic process of extracting metals from their ores, the step of supplying said ore to the electrolytein the anode compartment, while maintaining said liquid separate from, and outof contact with the hydrogen dissolved in' the liquid in the cathode compartment, and oxidizing said dissolved hydrogen before the same reaches the anode compartment.

7. A'process of extracting copper, zinc and the like from ores containing the same,

- Which comprises suspending the ores in the anode compartment of an electrolytic cell containing a dissolved electrolyte, and de polarizing the cell, by oxidizing any hydrogen absorbed by thecathode liquid, before said hydrogen comes into contact With the anode liquid.

In testimony whereof l aihx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HERMAN A; WAGNER.

I \Vitnesses:

JOHN E. MOATS, H. C. MILLS 

